Tag Archives: Burbank Review

Burbank Review

The recent court case, in which a campaign worker was fined for taking a couple of signs belonging to a rival candidate, got me to thinking how the justice system treats such matters.

Going by the letter of the law, taking a candidate’s sign from someone’s lawn or business is theft. But it is much more. It is a form of voter suppression. Of course it doesn’t rise to the level of goons standing in front of a polling place intimidating voters — as has happened in the past presidential election. But it is a serious matter.

Just as it makes sense to require voters to show a driver’s license or some other form of photo ID in order to reduce the fraudulent voting that has marked the past two president elections, it makes sense to change the way we deal with crimes like taking another candidate’s signs. While U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder seems to turn a blind eye to voter fraud for blatantly political reasons, our City Council should consider taking some positive action regarding this mater.

Perhaps a new section to the Burbank Municipal Code could address the taking of candidates’ signs. There should be a distinction between teenage pranks and the deliberate acts of adults. It would be more appropriate than labeling the crime as “theft.”

In the case of Scott Trinidad, a volunteer for School Board candidate Steve Ferguson, who was caught on surveillance video taking two signs for rival candidate Char Tabet, he was charged with theft. Because the value of the items taken (about $8 for the two signs) was under $50, the crime was an infraction. That’s similar to getting a minor traffic ticket. After his plea in court, he was fined $200. When the penalties required by the State of California were added to it, the price tag was close to $950. That is a hefty penalty to pay. Perhaps a more appropriate penalty would have been community service — something like taking down all the old campaign signs after the election on April 9, is over.

While the Space Shuttle Endeavor flying over Burbank was a sight we’ll never see again, it also served as a reminder of what great things American has accomplished with our space program.

Burbank must be special. The shuttle flew right over the heart of our town. The rest of the San Fernando Valley, with the exception of Toluca Lake, Universal City, part of North Hollywood, and a little bit of Studio City, were clearly slighted. Don’t you just love living in Burbank?

At my granddaughter’s school, Edison Elementary, the students were allowed outside to watch the shuttle fly by less than ½ mile from the campus. Most school principals recognized the historical importance of the event, and allowed their students to experience it. Students at several campuses got to see the shuttle directly over their schools.

My son and I, along with my baby granddaughter, went to the parking structure at the children’s pediatrician’s office. Some of our neighbors were there, along with mom’s with toddlers, and about 20 people with cameras. There was even a family there from New Mexico. It was quite a diverse group with just one purpose — see the shuttle.

We were not disappointed. Our first glimpse was when the shuttle made its way from the Getty Museum, maneuvering to fly past the HOLLYWOOD sign and the Griffith Observatory. Then it made a wide sweeping turn over parts of Glendale as it followed the Golden State Freeway northward, until it turned west and flew approximately over Olive Ave. on its way to Universal Studios.

Cameras clicked and everyone marveled at how close the shuttle, atop the Boeing 747, was to us in our vantage point 40 feet above Magnolia Blvd. We watched as the plane made a wide turn and headed east for a run above the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Someone asked, “Where’s the sonic booms?” reminding us of the twin sonic booms the shuttles made returning from space to Edwards Air Force Base.

I think everyone got a little extra boost to our national pride as we watched Endeavor fly by. It reminded me of a day back in 1984 when the Olympic torch was carried through town on its way to the Los Angeles Olympics. On that day my family and I stood on the corner of Beachwood Dr. and Olive Ave. watching the torch bearers run by. The crowd broke into a chant of “USA, USA.”

There was no chanting today. Perhaps it was the bittersweet overtone to today’s event. It was great to see the shuttle, but it also served to remind us that this marks the end of America’s manned space program. We are the country that put a man on the moon, and now we have to rely on others to get into space — hitching rides with the Russians. Kind of makes you sad. What has happened to America?

Eric Norris, on left, with other Relay for Life participants, is shown on lap 108. He went on to complete 174 laps, walking for the entire 24-hour event. (Photo By Ross A. Benson)

At the Relay for Life held this past weekend at Johnny Carson Park, participating team member take turns walking the quarter-mile path around the park to raise awareness and money to fight cancer. One participant went a little farther.

Eric Norris, 44, decided he was going to try and walk the entire 24 hours of the event. Walking long distances isn’t new to Norris, who walked 40 miles on his 40th birthday just four years ago to raise money for Outward Bound. You can check that out at http://40at40walk.blogspot.com/

Burbank’s newest piece of public art was unveiled in a ceremony on the Chandler Bikeway at Mariposa St. Entitled “Trackwalker,” it is the creation of Burbank sculptor Shiela Cavalluzzi.

The larger than life-size bronze sculpture of an early 20th Century railroad worker was cast at the American Arts Foundry here in town, and features the addition of a train track made with actual pieces of rail held in place with track plates and spikes that the artist obtained. According to Cavalluzzi, she used local freelance animator Jaime Oliff, as the model for the trackwalker.

Ron Howard, one of Burbank’s most famous native sons, made an appearance in Burbank On Parade much to the surprise of the thousands of spectators who lined Olive Ave. It was also a surprise to parade organizers and even to Ron himself.
Ron’s appearance came about quite by accident, and in large part due to friendships that started at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School back in 1959.

Master Sergeant David Bigbee Retires From Air Force

Master Sergeant David Bigbee retired from the United States Air Force after nearly 25 years of service, in ceremonies held recently at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.

MSgt. Bigbee and his family are well-known in Burbank. He is the son of former longtime Burbank residents Rollin and Sue Bigbee, of Morro Bay. His father, Rollin Bigbee was a longtime physical education teacher at Luther Burbank Middle School. His mother was a teacher at the Burbank First United Methodist Church pre-school for many years. His late grandfather, the Rev. Morris R. Bigbee, was pastor at the Little White Chapel Christian Church from 1942 to 1967.

David was born and raised in Burbank, graduating from John Burroughs High School in 1982. He is married to the former Cynthia Tarello, also from Burbank. The couple has two children, a daughter Rachel, and a son, Joshua, who is currently serving in the U.S. Navy.
After basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas, where he received the Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon, Bigbee was trained as an Air Launched Missile Maintenance Specialist at Chanute AFB in Illinois. He spent the next 8 years at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas, where he worked as a Weapons Support Specialist, Missile Technician, Shop Trainer, and Maintenance Bay Chief. While at McConnell he performed maintenance on missiles and the B-1 Strategic Bomber.

In 1995 MSgt. Bigbee was assigned to Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana, where he served for 15 years. He was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant at Malmstrom in 2008. In May of 2009, MSgt. Bigbee was assigned to Minot AFB in North Dakota.
During his outstanding career in the Air Force, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the AF Achievement Outstanding Achievement, Good Conduct, National Defense Service, Global War on Terrorism Service and other medals. Bigbee also earned the Strategic Air Command Munitions Master Technician Award and the ICBM Master Technician Award. At his retirement ceremony, MSgt. Bigbee received the Meritorious Service Medal, one of the highest commendations that can be earned by a member of the Air Force.

Following his retirement from the Air Force, Bigbee has accepted a position with Boeing Aircraft at their Malmstrom AFB Division in Great Falls, Montana.

BurbankNBeyond’s Stan Lynch remembers February 9, 1971 when Burbankers awoke to a large earthquake. At the time Stan was working for the Burbank Daily Review, so as a good newsman did, he was out and about to size up the damage. Read his account of the day that changed Burbank forever in the ‘BURBANK REVIEW’ section